Covers for closing open spaces such as shipholds, railway cars and the like



July 2, 1963 YUKO lTOH 3,095,847

COVERS FOR CLOSING OPEN SPACES SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS, RAILWAY CARS AND THE LIKE Filed June 5, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 YUKO ITOH BY MM AT$NEY5 July 2, 1963 Filed June 5,- 1961 COVERS FOR CLOSING OPE UKO lTOH 3,095,847

Y N SPACES SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS, RAILWAY CARS AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATT NEYS 3,095,847 RAILWAY YUKO lTOH July 2, 1963 COVERS FOR CLOSING OPEN SPACES SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS,

CARS AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1961 HUT INVENTOR. YUKO I TOH A RNEYS July 2, 1963 YUK [T H COVERS FOR CLOSING OPEN SPACES SUCH AS SHIPHO Fi l e d J u n e 5 1 9 61 3,095,847 LDS, RAILWAY Fig.7

July 2, 1963 YUKO ITOH COVERS FOR CLOSING OPEN SPACES SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS, RAILWAY CARS AND THE LIKE v 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1961 I Mm co Ci LI T? I INVENTOR.

Y K O I T O H A RNEYS July 2, 1963 YUKO lTOH 3,

COVERS FOR CLOSING OPEN SPACES SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS, RAILWAY July 2, 1963 YUKO ITOH 7 COVERS FOR CLOSING OPEN SPACES SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS, RAILWAY CARS AND THE LIKE Filed June 5, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

YU KO ITOH AZORNEY United States Patent Ofi ice COVERS FOR CLOSER OPEN SRACES SUCH AS SHOLDS, RAILWAY CARS AND THE LIKE Yoko Itch, Tokyo, .Iapan, assignor to International Mac Gregor Organization (I.M.G.O.), Monte Carlo,

Monaco Filed June 5, 1961, Ser. No. 114,808 Claims priority, application France Sept. 30, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 114-202) It is the object of the present invention to provide improved covers or panels for closing open spaces such as shiphold hatchways, railway cars, etc.

It is known that in many cases, covers, or panels consisting of independent sections interconnected through flexible or rigid means such as chain, cables, or links, are used. As a rule, these cover sections are stowed vertically in spaces provided for this purpose at the ends of the hatchway coaming or the like. The dimensions of these spaces, of course, are subordinate firstly to those of the different covers. 'Ihus, notably, their length should be at least equal to the total thickness of the different cover sections. Now these covers should be of very sturdy construction and in some cases the weight of a single section thereof may exceed four tons. Moreover, these covers must be capable not only of covering the aforesaid open spaces but also of supporting goods that may be deposited thereon. bridges and this also accounts for the necessity of making them as sturdy as possible.

On the other hand, shipowners are obviously desirous to increase the length of the hatchways in order to facilitate the loading of ships, thus reducing the space available between adjacent hatchways and wherein the cover sections are to be stowed away in their open position.

Now nearly all efforts made with a view to provide a satisfactory solution to this problem were unsuccessful or insufiicient. The general remedy consisted in reducing the thickness of the cover sections. Now this reduction in thickness is obviously attended by a corresponding decrease in strength or weight. On the other hand, an attempt was made to use ribbed panels adapted to fit into one another, but in this case too the strength was reduced to abnormally low values.

It is the essential object of this invention to avoid the inconveniences set forth hereina-bove by providing a cover construction comprising cover sections adapted to fit into one another and remarkable notably in that they consist of hollow box-section structures or assemblies open at their bottom and consisting each essentially of at least one longitudinal beam of sturdy construction, extending preferably in the direction of the greatest dimension and at one or both ends of the box-section structure, and of one or more, relatively light abutting sheet metal plates constituting the roof of the box-section structure and secured on said beam or beams, at least one of said beams having an inclined position downwardly and outwardly so that the different box-section structures may fit into one another.

According to another feature characterizing this invention the reinforcing longitudinal beams disposed transversely in relation to said beam or beams and underlying the roof are formed with iron section extensions coplanar with, and consistent with the height of, said inclined beam or beams.

According to a further feature of this invention the side faces, that is, the faces extending at right angles to said beams, of the box-section structures are completed or closed by sheet metal plates or other adequate closing members constituting lateral walls connected to said roofs and inclined on the whole or part of their height.

According to one form of embodiment, each box-section These cover sections also act as removable 3,095,841 Patented July 2, 1963 structure comprises at one end a strong inclined beam of the type set forth hereinabove and at its opposite end a beam preferably straight and of the light construction, adapted to bear on the strong beam of the adjacent box section structure.

According to a modified embodiment of this invention, each box-section structure comprises two end beams inclined in opposite directions.

With this arrangement it will be observed that the cover sections according to the present invention, which are characterized by a box-section construction, can easily be fitted into one another and thus occupy in the stowage place a relatively moderate space. On the other hand, due to their specific construction, these sections have a strength amply sufficient to meet all requirements on board ships, railway cars and the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiments of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing [from the spirit of the invention.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the manner in which sections constituting a cover according to this invention are disposed in their olosedand open position;

FIGURE 2 is a corresponding plan view;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken upon the line IIIIII of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken upon the line IV-IV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken upon the line VV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary section showing on a larger scale a cover element, the section being also taken upon the line IVIV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is similarly a fragmentary section showing on a larger scale a cover element, the section being taken upon the line IIIIII of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view showing in diagrammatic form an alternative embodiment of the cover of this invention;

FIGURE 9 is a corresponding plan view;

FIGURE 10' is a fragmentary section taken upon the line X-X of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary section on a larger scale similar to FIGURE 10 illustrating details thereof.

In the form of embodiment shown by way of example in FIGURES 1 to 7 of the drawings three aligned cover sections 1, 2, 3 are illustrated which are adapted to roll on track 4 and provided with track rollers 5, 6 on the one hand and so-called tipping rollers 7, on the other hand. A stowing space is shown on the right-hand side of FIG- URE 1 and the cover sections 1, 2 and 3, after the hatchway or like aperture has been opened, are stowed side by side therein in a substantially vertical position. This stowing space is designated by the reference numeral 8 and the different cover sections stowed therein are shown in dotted lines. As will be readily understood, these cover sections are constructed in the form of box-section struc tures open at their bottom and therefore adapted to be stacked upon one another. In the stowed position shown in FIGURE 1 and notably in the right-hand portion of this figure it will be seen that the different sections fit into one another and that therefore the total length L of the stowing space is smaller than the sum of the heights h of the sections stowed therein.

To permit this interfitting of the sections it was necessary to create within each section an inner, relatively deep space having a flaring bottom inlet. To this end, these box-section structures are constituted by means of a beam 9, as shown in FIGS. 3 and '7, which extends obliquely to the vertical and consists for example of a fiat and thick steel section. This beam extends in the direction of the major axis of the cover section, for example, in the case of shipbuilding and in the most frequent instances, transversely in relation to the center line of the ship. At its lower portion this beam comprises a base member consisting for example of fiat irons 10, 11 and 12. In the example illustrated these flat irons constitute a kind of triangle.

This beam has its top covered by a sheet metal plate 13 constituting the roof of the section and extending beyond the end of the cover section at 14 so as to abut with the roof 13' of the adjacent section, as shown at 15, in FIG. 7. At this end of the cover section a preferably vertical beam .16, which may be of lighter construction than beam 9, is assembled for example by welding or riveting with the roof 13.

In the case of cover sections of relatively large dimensions the assembly is reinforced by means of a variable number of longitudinal and transverse members. These members are secured both to the two beams 9 and 16 and to the roof 13. In the example illustrated transverse members 17, 18 extend from the vertical beam 16 to the inclined beam 9. These transverse members are secured under the roof 13 and have transverse extensions 19' inclined in a direction parallel to the thickest beam 9, these extensions 19 being similarly secured under the roof on said beams 9 and on the base members 12 The number of transverse members depends of course on the desired strength of the cover section and of its dimensions. However, it may be pointed out that the essential requirement to be met in connection with these transverse members is to keep their height at a relatively moderate value so that they will not interfere with the interfitting of the sections in their stowed position. Thus, for example, this height should not exceed that of the straight beam 16. Under these conditions, the cover sections may fit into one another through a height or thickness equal to the difference between the aggregate thickness of the section and the height of the cross or transverse members 17, 18.

These transverse members themselves may be reinforced by means of longitudinal members 20.

In the transverse direction, and as shown in FIGURE 6, the roofs are formed with inclined extensions 21 toward their lateral ends, these extensions being reinforced by longitudinal members 22. At the end of these inclined portions vertical plates 23 may be secured, and the track rollers 5, 6 and tipping rollers 7 being mounted on these plates 23, as shown. The joints between the inclined roof elements 21 and the inclined beams 9 occur along the lines 24 in FIGURE 2. This condition is obtained by simply cutting the beams 9 to form bevel edges, which can be made without difliculty.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the straight beams 16 engage bearing members 25 provided on the outer portion of the inclined beams 9. At this position sealing devices may be provided which consist for example of a projecting lip 26 carried by the inclined beam 9 and engaging a gasket 27 housed in an inverted channel member or angle member 28 secured on the straight beam 16. The degree of compression applied to the gasket 27 is 'compulsorily limited by the contact between the beam 16 and the bearing 25. If desired a contact may be provided between the wing 29 of the channel or angle member 28 and a member 30 also rigid and carried by the inclined beam 9 in order to increase the water-tightness and the protection of the gasket 27.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the cover sections are shown in their stowed position. The different box-section structures interfit in one another through about one-half '4 of their height and thus a gain of at least 50% is effected as far as the dimensions necessary for establishing the stowing spaces 8 are concerned.

In the alternate embodiment shown in FIGURES 8 to 11 of the drawings it is assumed that each box-section structure, instead of comprising a strong beam and a straight beam of reduced strength in comparison thereto, consists of a pair of symmetrically inclined beams. These two beams are shown at 31 and 32. The construction is somewhat similar to that shown in FIGURES l to 7. In fact, the two beams 31, 32 are interconnected by a sheet metal plate 33 constituting the roof. The assembly is stiffened by means of transverse reinforcements 34 disposed at a moderate height beneath the roof, and interconnected at their ends to the two inclined beams 31 and 32. These reinforcements are completed by a pair of end reinforcements extending in a direction parallel to that of the relevant inclined beam 31 or 32. The two reinforcements are shown at 35 and 36 and may consist of any adequate sections. Longitudinal reinforcements are also provided when the dimensions of the cover section exceeds certain limits.

The bases of beams 31, $2 consist of fiat irons 37 with or without reinforcing angle irons 38 disposed therearound. The water seals consist of angle members 39 carried by the outer face of beams '31 to form a cavity in which a rubber or like gasket 41% may be fitted, for example. The base of the adjacent cover section is formed with a projecting member 41 engaging the gasketand the wing 42 of the gasket-receiving cavity bear on the base 37 of the adjacent cover section.

Of course, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the few forms of embodiment shown and described herein, as many modifications and variations may be brought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A cover device for closing apertures such as hatchways in ships decks and like openings in rolling vehicles and buildings, comprising a plurality of separate rolling cover panel sections adapted to be horizontally aligned in a row in their aperture closing position and to be tilted and stowed vertically in an up-ended position in mutually nested relationship within a space adjacent said aperture when this latter is open, each panel section having a hollow box-like shape which is open at the bottom face and closed at the top and on at least three side faces thereof and comprising strong longitudinal beam means of sturdy structure constituting at least one lateral end wall of said panel section extending substantially the greatest dimension thereof and sloping downwards from said top face and out-wards of said box-like shape to afford an interfitting engagement with adjacent panel sections in their stowed vertical position, one flat relatively light metal sheet formed by at least one plate constituting said top face and secured to said beam means, straight reinforcing elements secured to and beneath said plate and to said beam means to enable said top face to carry heavy loads in the closing position of said panel sections, said elements being substantially of less height than said beam means and said elements located transversely to said beam means being each one provided at their ends with a slant extension member connected and substantially conforming to the entire web height of said beam means to form part thereof and sealing bearing means provided on both lateral opposite end faces of said panel section adapted to cooperate in overlapping engagement with corresponding sealing bearing means secured to the adjacent ends of adjoining panel sections in their closing position to provide therebetween continuous fluid-tight joints, whereby the end part of one panel section is adapted to rest upon the adjacent end part of the adjoining panel section and said top plates are on a level with one another.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein those side walls of each of said panel sections which extend transversely to said beam means are constituted by metal sheets secured to said top face forming plate and at least partially inclined downwards and outwards therefrom while conforming and being connected to a corresponding slant portion of said beam means, the lower edge of said side walls being formed by a straight metal strip having a vertical web, the upper edge of which forms a stop means to limit depth of said interfitting engagement.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein each of said panel sections comprises at its so-called rear end one aforesaid strong beam and at its opposite fore end a substantially small straight light girder extending in :a direction substantially parallel to said strong beam and having a vertical web of reduced height adapted to rest in sealing engagement on the relevant strong beam of an adjacent panel section in the closing position, said sealing bearing means consisting on the one hand of an upward projecting ridge means forming a sealing seat, carried by the outer face of said strong beam and extending substantially the useful length thereof, and on the other hand of a resiliently compressible downward facing sealing packing carried by a channel section member integral with and extending the useful length of the outer face of said girder whereby said packing is adapted to engage from above said ridge means and the extent of compression thereof owing to the Weight of said panel section is limited by the contact between relevant rigid structural parts of said girder and of said strong beam.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said top plate 30 of each panel section extends beyond said small girder so as to register in closely flush coplanar relationship with the top plate of the adjacent panel section in the closing position.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein each of said panel sections comprises one aforesaid strong beam at each one of its opposite so-called fore and rear ends respectively, said beams being symmetrically inclined with respect to each other and being each one provided at their lower base-forming edge with a sill-plate extending sub stantially the useful length of said beam and having a flange-like portion protruding outwards and carrying said sealing bearing means which consist for one of said beams of an upward projecting ridge means forming a sealing seat extending substantially the useful length of said flange-like portion, and for the other beam of a resiliently compressible downward facing sealing packing carried by a channel section like member integral with the outer face of said flange portion, whereby said packing is adapted to engage from above said ridge means pertaining to the adjacent panel section in the closing position and the extent of compression thereof owing to the weight of said panel section is limited by the contact between relevant rigid structure parts of said flange-like portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,799,238 Suderow July 16, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 844,066 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1960 

1. A COVER DEVICE FOR CLOSING APERTURES SUCH AS HATCHWAYS IN SHIPS'' DECKS AND LIKE OPENINGS IN ROLLING VEHICLES AND BUILDINGS, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE ROLLING COVER PANEL SECTIONS ADATPED TO BE HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED IN A ROW IN THEIR APERTURE CLOSING POSITION AND TO BE TILTED AND STOWED VERTICALLY IN AN UP-ENDED POSITION IN MUTUALLY NESTED RELATIONSHIP WITHIN A SPACE ADJACENT SAID APERTURE WHEN THIS LATTER IS OPEN, EACH PANEL SECTION HAVING A HOLLOW BOX-LIKE SHAPE WHICH IS OPEN AT THE BOTTOM FACE AND CLOSED AT THE TOP AND ON AT LEAST THREE SIDE FACES THEREOF AND COMPRISING STRONG LONGITUDINAL BEAM MEANS OF STURDY STRUCTURE CONSTITUTING AT LEAST ONE LATERAL END WALL OF SAID PANEL SECTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE GREATEST DIMENSION THEREOF AND SLOPING DOWNWARDS FROM SAID TOP FACE AND OUTWARDS OF SAID BOX-LIKE SHAPE TO AFFORD AN INTERFITTING ENGAGEMENT WITH ADJACENT PANEL SECTIONS IN THEIR STOWED VERTICAL POSITION, ONE FLAT RELATIVELY LIGHT METAL SHEET FORMED BY AT LEAST ONE PLATE CONSTITUTING SAID TOP FACE AND SECURED TO SAID BEAM MEANS, STRAIGHT REINFORCING ELEMENTS SECURED TO AND BENEATH SAID PLATE AND TO SAID BEAM MEANS TO ENABLE SAID TOP FACE TO CARRY HEAVY LOADS IN THE CLOSING POSITIN OF SAID PANEL SECTIONS. SAID ELEMENTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY OF LESS HEIGHT THAN SAID BEAM MEANS AND SAID ELEMENTS LOCATED TRANSVERSELY TO SAID BEAM MEANS BEING EACH ONE PROVIDED AT THEIR ENDS WITH A SLANT EXTENSION MEMBER CONNECTED AND SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORMING TO THE ENTIRE WEB HEIGHT OF SAID BEAM MEANS TO FORM PART THEREOF AND SEALING BEARING MEANS PROVIDED ON BOTH LATERAL OPPOSITE END FACES OF SAID PANEL SECTION ADAPTED TO COOPERATE IN OVERLAPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH CORRESPONDING SEALING BEARING MEANS SECURED TO THE ADJACENT ENDS OF ADJOINING PANEL SECTIONS IN THEIR CLOSING POSITION TO PROVIDE THEREBETWEEN CONTINUOUS FLUID-TIGHT JOINTS, WHEREBY THE END PART OF ONE PANEL SECTION IS ADAPTED TO REST UPON THE ADJACENT END PART OF THE ADJOINING PANEL SECTION AND SAID TOP PLATES ARE ON A LEVEL WITH ONE ANOTHER. 